NCCE Empowers Student Leaders in Ashanti Region on Ethical Leadership and Rule of Law

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ashanti Regional Directorate, has organized a Youth Leaders' Empowerment Dialogue Session for student leaders from selected tertiary institutions in the Ashanti Region to strengthen their capacity to promote ethical leadership, accountability and the rule of law.

The program held at the Apostolic Auditorium of The Apostolic Church-Ghana, Ayeduase (KNUST), formed part of the Participation, Accountability and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) Program. The initiative is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with Ghana's Ministry of Finance.

More than 65 participants attended the dialogue, including student leaders from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Garden City University and Kumasi Technical University (KsTU). The participants comprised executives and members of Civic Education Clubs, Student Representative Councils (SRCs) and other organized youth groups committed to advancing responsible leadership within their institutions.

Opening the session, officials of the NCCE underscored the critical role of young leaders in shaping positive attitudes and fostering responsible citizenship. They encouraged participants to use their leadership positions to champion integrity, accountability and democratic values among their peers.

Delivering a presentation on the Rule of Law, NCCE Director Akua Zakaria stressed that respect for the 1992 Constitution and the law of Ghana remains the foundation of democratic governance. She urged the student leaders to uphold justice, fairness and equality while rejecting corruption and all practices that undermine national development.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, DSP Godwin Ahianyo, educated participants on the Whistleblower Act, 2006 (Act 720), and the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989). He explained the legal protections available to whistleblowers, the procedures for accessing information from public institutions, and the significance of both laws in promoting transparency, accountability and active citizen participation in governance.

In a presentation on Ethical Leadership and Conflict of Interest, NCCE Director Evans Nunoo encouraged participants to exhibit honesty, accountability and selfless service in their leadership roles. He advised them to avoid situations that could create conflicts of interest and to always place the public interest above personal gain.

The dialogue concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants shared ideas on promoting integrity, transparency and accountability within their respective campuses.

The NCCE reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young leaders to serve as ambassadors of ethical leadership, transparency and the rule of law in their institutions and communities, in line with the objectives of the PAIReD Program.